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Capital One Cup Preview in association with EZE Group – Cambridge United
Birmingham City face Cambridge United tonight in the first round of the Capital One Cup tonight at St Andrews. Blues will be hoping that they can bounce back from the 2-0 defeat suffered at the weekend while the U’s will be wanting to take momentum from their 1-0 win over Plymouth to upset the odds.
Cambridge United
Cambridge are still without Tom Elliott who sustained ankle ligament damage in pre-season, but midfielder Liam Hughes could return from a minor knock that kept him out of Saturday’s game.
This is Blues’ first League Cup meeting with Cambridge; the U’s will be wanting to turn over a record which has seen them progress just once in their last eight matches against higher opposition and will look to the head to head record which is even at four wins apiece in ten games as comfort that they can do so.
Blues
New signing David Davis goes straight into the squad for tonight after his transfer from Wolves; Clayton Donaldson could make his first start as Blues may look to go 4-4-2 against lower level opposition. I also wonder if Denny Johnstone might be given a run out although Lee Clark has said he will make only a few changes and put out a strong team – mindful perhaps of Blues’ dreadful home record and the need to get a win on the board, especially against opposition which he will be expected to beat.
Blues have to win this; the defeat to Middlesbrough brought back a lot of anti-Lee Clark sentiment online and if he is to get the fans onside he will need to show that Blues can attack, they can score and they can win at home. Tonight has to be when he starts doing that.
The winners of the Ipswich tickets will be announced on Friday; there will be a competition to win tickets for the next home match after that on Saturday.
Tags: Cambridge United, Clayton Donaldson, David Davis, Denny Johnstone, EZE Group
113 Responses to “Capital One Cup Preview in association with EZE Group – Cambridge United”
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Lee Clark has to make changes, from what I have read over the weekend from the Boro match, some players were either struggling in their positions and forwards were being denied adequate service from midfield.
Be brave Lee Clark, and lets hope the words you must have spoken to the team have not fallen on deaf ears, we need a win for the confidence it brings to everyone, players and supporters alike.
lee clark will make changes Kazakblue because thats what he knows best,
he changes for the sake of it and even if we had won 2-0 at boro he would still make changes….he doesent know is best team and he propably pick 11 players out of a pot and play them irelative of there positions…thats the feeling ime getting with clark now and hes beginning to annoy me with his tinkering….PACK IT UP and play a team that SHOULD play and not bench players. KRO.
You are so right this manager is the only one capable of making such incredibly crazy decisions no one else could dream up his selections.
As for him saying something to the team in the dressing room, I think you’d need a translator. He’s enthusiastic but he’s the maker of his own downfall through his crazy selections which are plain wrong for all to see.
tmsblues, we are defenitley singing of the same hymn sheet when it comes to lee clark, totally agree that his enthusiasm is about all that’s going for him, his selections, his tactics,his way of playing and his fear of the opposition is there for all to see unless your as blind as a bat…hes on quicksand for me and three home wins on the spin over this next week will save him for now and hopefully my attitude towards lee clark might just be a little more encouraging but don’t hold your breath.!!! KRO.
Thanks. Just don’t want all his supporters trolling out the sob story of how he’s had no money etc. The owners and budget setters aren’t training or selecting the team LC is. I have always felt that a squad like he’s built with players really wanting to play and prove their worth and to have pride in the shirt is a good thing that really could work. BUT it needs a great leader to inspire those types of teams to win through and LC is not that leader and its going to be a tough season with him at the helm!
that’s the thing tmsblues, I know about the no money and getting in freebies and non contract players and this and that but for me it was the fact there was no passion,no pride in the shirt, no belief,no organisation, it was total pits,…I hope its a one off and things pick up tonight but as ive said I cant see it under clark, sorry guys. KRO.
It’s simple -play the best players in their natural positions in a formation that works for them and give them at least ten games together.
Why does Clark make it so difficult?
he doesent know how to do that Art because its to difficult to for him to understand…he makes life difficult for himself by picking the opposite 11 to what 90% of fans would pick…no idea what so ever!! KRO.
Who are the best players? A player you think is the best in a particular position (Eardley before Boro) has a mare so do you still play him for a further 9 games?
Art, you have been consistently critical of Clark and that is your right, but being an armchair manager is much easier than being the real thing.
I never see myself as an armchair manager and have never commented on individual players.Its a Clarks job to select the best team and to set out the tactics to win the game -a task he rarely achieves.
I know it’s only early season, but to lose to Cambridge at home would be unacceptable. Nothing short of a win is good enough… 3 or 4 goals would be about right (to us that is.)
Staffs,
what about this for a team of ex-BCFC players ?
David Seaman
Pat Van Den Hauwe
Roger Hynde
Noel Blake
Julian Dicks
Christophe Dugarry
Robbie Savage
Howard Kendall
Trevor Francis
Bob Latchford
Kennie Burns
Would score goals and terrify the opposition forwards
Good Luck to everyone tonight, I will be following Andy Walker on the wall at 1.00am KRO.
I doubt any of today’s premier teams would beat that lot.
Perhaps if they are still fit Clark will pick them !!
he propably don’t know who any of them are!!! KRO.
Depends on how they train though!
A subs bench of Tony Coton, Joe Gallagher, Bob Hatton, Wayne Clarke, Dave Langan, Steve Claridge
Loved Stevie Claridge. Worzel. Scruffy hair, shirt too big and socks down. Knew where the goal was though.
I like plays like that, unfashionable but always gave 100% evrytime they pulled on a shirt,Brian “Harry” Roberts another one in that mould
Probably the greatest was Denis Law. Scruffy herbert, but what a player!
The ” Lawman “, Matt Busby, chased him for ages, but Man/City, would not sell to Man/Untd,, so he went to Italy, giving Busby the chance to finally buy him.
The rest, is Glorious History, !!!.
I think it was Law who cost £99,999 wasn’t it? He didn’t want the first £100k player tag to be an albatros around his neck. It was either him or Greavsie, I always forget which.
Staffs;, It was the lawman, mate.
Jimmy Greaves, — another great striker, [ if not the best ].
Then Ian Rush, — What a threesome they would have been, Eh. !!.
For me OB… Greavsie WAS the best. The greatest natural goalscorer I ever saw in the flesh.
So unlucky to be left out of our World-cup final in 66,
But then, — would the result have been the same, ??.
It was only because he was injured though. It wouldn’t have been fair to leave Hurst out when Greavsie was fit again… otherwise history might have been very different.
He got injured in the Semi I think, there is a photo of him in the bath with his foot on a stool bandaged up on pinterest.
KRO+DNM
Who did he make his debut against on his return from Italy to Spurs ?
Also, do you know he scored on his Debut for every Team he played for , including Internationals ?
Yep, he even scored on his debut for Barnet after he left wet spam.
According to Wiki, “He played his first game in a Spurs shirt for the reserve team on 9 December 1961, and scored twice in a 4–1 win over Plymouth Argyle Reserves at Home Park. He scored a hat-trick on his first team debut, including a flying scissor kick, in a 5–2 win over Blackpool at White Hart Lane.”
He debuted against us when he returned from Italy and ,
needless to say, scored on his Debut. Agree with you completely, a wonderful player
He also holds the record number of hat tricks scored for England – 6 and the highest goal scorer in the top flight, the old first division, – 357
KRO+DNM
Ah, Ian Rush that was in the days when people weren’t so snobbish as to look down their noses at a player signed from the lower divisions. ;-)
another natural finisher, Ian Rush, Left foot, Right foot or heading, !!.
It was greavsie when he signed for Tottenham under Bill Nicholson, another legend manager.
KRO+DNM
we had better win comfortably tonight staffs or i will have the knifes out and enjoy the satisfaction that that will bring…ime serious and expecting 100% better than boro…3-0 at least will keep the knifes at bay…anything less and its show time. KRO.
Can’t disagree with any of that dave. As anyone on here knows, I’m the most patient of people… but it won’t last forever.
ive been patient also staffs but boro just tiped me over the edge and angered me so much….I hope he turns it round for allour sakes, fingers crossed. KRO.
I agree but it has to be a convincing win and the style of play different to the previous season-the fans need to be impressed.
Well now;, Tonight really matters, cos if we lose this one, we really will have the hound of the Baskervilles, at l,C’s throat,.
OBN I’m afraid this man can’t help himself. No one can understand his thinking. He is a nice guy in the wrong job. He’d be a good enthusiastic assistant doing the running but not the leading, motivating and tactical briefing its just not in him. I just cannot see this guy changing his style, he can’t help himself. He just lacks the right skill set and as my old boss once said ‘you cant put in what God left out’.
Just about sums it up nicely and I think the board will get rid of him if the results are poor.They can’t afford not to anymore.
tmsblues, I absolutely agree with all of your summing-up, As a No2, he would be fantastic, — He needs an ” old-head ” alongside him for guidance.
I think Kevin Broadhurst would be better as our manager handling the selections and tactics and let Lee Clark do KB’s radio commentary on 1152 a. m . They’re just two people in the wrong jobs – let’s get them to swap. Problem solved!
For once Raymondo, we disagree. All he does is name drop and make constant digs at the manager and players. If he was any good, he’d be managing, not talking b0ll0xs on the radio. Bring back The Horse, he was a brilliant co-commentator.
Look lets agree anyone even my mum who hates footie and is nearly 90 could still pick a more logical 11 than crazy clark.!
’twas only spoken in jest SB. Freddie Goodwin was my favourite manager. Do you remember him? An unusual character. Went to the USA in the end, I think.
does anyone remember Alex Mcleish…won a league cup and finished 9th in the premier league, had the best home record of any other manager I can remember and is looking for work!!!…..Freddie Goodwin took us to two fa cup semi finals I think in 1973 and 1975 and was a great boss for us…..could propably still pick a better 11 than lee clark….but then we all could. KRO.
Joking? Thank F for that. I go make a cuppa when Broadarse is waffling on.
Yes, Goodwin was a good man manager… as was Jim Smith after him. Smiffy created a talented team.
Freddie Goodwin, Was a Busby Babe, junior player, who never quite made it, His pedigree though showed in his management at Blues, !!.
He was one of the best Blues have had, deserved some success. Didn’t he introduce psychology testing while at Blues? Other than Trevor of course
KRO+DNM
I seem to remember that he did. He was possibly the youngest manager we’ve had too and therefore more receptive than most to new, modern ideas.
I know this will upset a lot of people but ide have alex McLeish back tomorrow…forget the vile situation, he was great for blues and can organise a team to win games, clark can not. KRO.
dave mann;, Now, That is an interesting proposition, Eh, “”.
I wonder if there was any significance in the fact he was at the Riverside on Saturday commentating, or is that all he does at the moment, I know he wants to get back into football in England.
KRO+DNM
he should have been on the blues bench Chris and lee clark commentating then maybe we would have ground out a result and shown passion and determination instead of giving up and being rolled over so easily…..ide love to see him back and have never hid behind that thinking ….he would have never put up with what I saw Saturday that’s for sure. KRO.
Wasn’t my style of football but he was effective and ground out results.
LC talks the talk, “High tempo, High line etc but fails to deliver with his selections and tactics, or the players don’t understand what he is asking.
KRO+DNM
As you say, McLeish was effective and got results (except for his last few months), but his style of play was definitely a cure for insomnia.
Don’t think it was all AM’s fault, the players thought they could just turn up and be given the points after winning the cup.
KRO+DNM
I think he’d be an amazing academy guy. He can spot a kid and bring them on, that’s for sure.
If I remember that is what a lot of Huddersfield supporters were saying when he got the Royal Boot from there.
KRO+DNM
I think these next 3 home games will be the crossroads for Lee Clark. I like the guy a lot, I love his passion for the game and for BCFC. But, we cannot continue to see the club plummet like it has. We need at least 2 wins out of the next 3 games. Minimum.
With such a virtually brand new squad he has to play his strongest eleven, more so at home as he really needs to get the fans back onside, break the home voodoo breed and instil confidence in the team.
The time for sentiment has long gone, we need players who are going to run through brick walls for the badge and get the fans excited.
Blues fans can accept defeat if they go down fighting, from what I have read on Saturdays game there wasn’t any fire in the belly.
LC is walking a very tight rope this season and unless he starts to get things right someone will burn it for him.
KRO+DNM
as ive said chris he doesent know is strongest 11 and a win tonight against a league two side is not going to make up for that gutless and disgracefull performance at boro….he would have to win both home league games to get anywhere near my good books. KRO.
The two league games are not easy either, so if they haven’t got the fight it will be disastrous for both LC and the supporters, who will undoubtedly and justifiably turn on him this season.
He has had a lenient run regarding the supporters, yes he has had some stick on the media outlets, but it will happen inside the ground unless the team are fighting and giving their all for the club.
KRO+DNM
were see tonight Chris because the 5,000 or so that turn up for Cambridge will be screaming and rioting if they show there boro form and just give up!! KRO.
Last Friday I was really looking forward to reading a good performance and a bright future for the team and Cambridge being a formality.
From comments after the game, yours being the most forthright I think, and news reports I am not looking forward to going tonight or the league games.
Like you I hope it was just a one off and we can kick start tonight, if not then the knives will be drawn, proverbially of course.
KRO+DNM
I hate moaning about performances Chris and I truly don’t think ive gone overboard about Saturdays game…I saw what I saw and it was far from pretty and I give my honest opinion weather people agree or not…..ime actually looking forward to tonights game mate to be honest because ime expecting a reaction of mega proportions….if we win well then I will give praise when praise is due and then hopefully be a bit more encouraged about brighton and Ipswich…lets wait and see. KRO.
I think we’ll be fine if we play this new guy Dennyson he’s a rare find with stats to match Davis’s in the last 3 months !
Given your report and the match stats I think you summed it up pretty accurately.
KRO+DNM
We should do Cambridge after all that’s the calibre of all we got excited about beating pre season ! Oh plus Cork City’s second team… they really took us seriously !
Suspect we’ll win tonight and the Board can put it down to a temporary cost saving of severance pay. Can someone send the Huddersfield Town advert to the manager’s office? Oh never mind I understand they wouldn’t have him back due to his unpopular and inexplicable team selection tinkering !
well said!! KRO.
Doyle
Caddis Edgar Gunning Hancox
Duffy Brown Davis Cotterill
Donaldson Novak
It’s got to be worth a try?
Maybe save Brown for the second half and give Dennyson a run with three up front.
KRO+DNM
That’s 3 times I’ve seen you mention a Dennyson. I thought it was just a typo at first. I’ve no idea who you mean Chris. :S
I know Staffs, still recovering from my B’day bash Saturday, lasted to the Monday.
I’ll be right as 10 pence soon HIC!!!
KRO+DNM
Good for you!
maybe only johnstone for novak and gray for duffy and that would suit me. KRO.
Why have I called him Dennyson, even my spell checker never picked it up.
KRO+DNM
If Clark saw your recommendation I bet he’s put Dennyson in the team!
Think I got my Johnstone and Donaldson mixed up.
Note to self… Must learn all the names of our new look squad..
KRO+DNM
Easier said than done Chris W, All are too new to us all, Hard to remember by name only, — What position they play, ?. lol.
Pretty good choice Staffs though Gray has to keep his place or promise to just rest him for Saturday.
Suspect LC might play about with your logic of playing players in form and in position. Reckon Doyle will be up front, Caddis at Centre half using his height, and Shinnie or Novak who train well and who’ll play anywhere for LC will fight it out for a full back role.!
like it. KRO.
If I thought you were serious… I’d sh*t myself. :-O
Is that an ‘i ‘ or ‘oo’ that’s been bleeped staffs..? ….. Clark’s making changes so anything can happen! So if it was an ‘i’ then wear your brown cords to save your embarrassment but if it was ‘oo’ then get one of our forwards to do the honours for you”.. .. It’ll more than likely miss ! Reminds me what’s the difference between a blues striker and a constipated owl….. One shoots and can’t hit the other hoots and can’t sh*t!
Got Sinusitis bad atm (although I will be at StAns tonight) so I was in need of a laugh. Cheers TMS. :-)
Wait for the team announcements that’ll be a laugh! or listen to Clarks post match comments they are usually funny too !
I have a bad enough headache as it is thanks. :-D
What’s the difference between the M1 and a pr0st1tute? One knackers your tyres and the other tires….
A little titbit from the BBC site. ‘Birmingham have scored in 13 of their last 14 League Cup matches. They have averaged 2.5 goals per game in that time.’
Also, Cambridge haven’t played in the league cup for 10 years.
Waiting for my lift, in about half an hour….. so good luck to the Boys in Blue and I hope we all see a cracking game and go home happy. KRO!
Lee Clark says Dennyson will be different class tonight and make a remarkable debut !
WTF is Dennyson??? :S
He’s scout Chris w’ s new find and Clark has decided he’s straight in the starting line up !
Ah, I see. Good old Chris…. sharp as a knife as always. *snigger*
We all make mystakes….lol, I can’t keep up with all these ne players. Give me a break I have still got a hangover….
KRO+DNM
Enjoyed tonight very much. We moved the ball around beautifully at times. Should have got 3 or 4 in normal time… but I didn’t mind watching for an extra half an hour. Very impressed with Davis, man of the match for me, broke up nearly everything and his passing range was excellent. For a guy who hadn’t played much since February, he did really well. Good signing by the looks. Overall, back home feeling satisfied.
My concern Staffs is the rear guard, no one takes the initiative and attacks the ball.
Brighton will be a sterner test Saturday, and I am worried the defence looks fragile.
There were also times when the ball should have been delivered into the box quicker.
As you say 3-1 and job done, but it could have been very different if Doyle hadn’t blocked that one-on-one early second half.
P.S. LC said Dennyson wasn’t fit enough, he has to lose at least a son…
KRO+DNM
I do hope you meant a STONE Chris lmao.
The one thing that peed me off (and I was screaming all night about) is if you can’t win the first ball, make sure you win the second. For me, the defence didn’t win enough second balls. Hall gets up, but there’s no real direction to his headers and they invariably go straight back to the opposition. They need to sort that out.
One thing I do have to say in kind of defence of the players, is that most of them are League 1 players, who have never played at this level before… and they are charged with keeping us in the Championship. It happened at Portsmouth and Coventry… and even Wolves to a certain extent. And look where they ended up. If this squad keep us in the Champs again this season (even 21st again,) they deserve every credit.
I agree there Staffs. But last night it was League two football and our players were still slow picking a pass, they need to up their pace at Championship level.
KRO+DNM
One thing that does irk me a bit, is that you play a team like Cambridge and, because they’re in League 2 (just been promoted from non-league) they’re automatically seen as a poor side. What utter twaddle. You can be a good team whatever division you’re in… the hundreds of giant-killing acts in the cups over the years are testament to that. I don’t think anyone could deny that Cambridge had a couple of decent players.
A few teams fell to lower league sides last night, we may have given Cambridge too much respect to begin with and they grew in confidence when they scored but at least we got a result.
KRO+DNM
They would have been on a high anyway Chris. Promotion back into the football league and winning their first match back tends to give you confidence.
Although half of our squad weren’t here last season, the tension of our crap home record has to still hang around the place. A couple of wins against Brighton and Ipswich will put that to bed once and for all.
Like your optimism, but yes we need to put that home record to bed and move on.
Be a different sort of game and hopefully a better atmosphere Saturday. I thought it was a fair crowd last night but even with us winning it was still quiet, out voiced by the Cambridge supporters all night, even when goaded, I half expected a rendition of “We don’t win at home”
KRO+DNM
When Burn and Bartley started they were both going for the same ball until they settled with an understanding.
The defence last night seemed to be waiting for someone else to take the initiative.
I also thought there were still too many sideways or back passes when a forward ball could have opened up something and the balls on the wings were either too slow to the keeper or not quick enough.
KRO+DNM
About this time last year, there were moans about the two Centre Backs we had then but they came good. Give them a bit of time and they may gel into an effective partnership.
Not a bad draw, Sunderland at home. that will be a good test
KRO+DNM
Gavin Gunning will be out for several months, with posterior cruciate ligament damage. It was caused when Colin Doyle came out and clattered Gunning, then fell on his knee.
I wonder if Lee Clark will have to bring in another defender, or promote from within.
I liked the look of Edgar in the back four with Caddis and Davis in midfield so I shouldn’t think he will need to bring anyone in just yet, we have Packwood, Hancox or Robbo who can fit in the back line.
KRO+DNM
Grounds can also play in there, but that would mean a recall for Amari’i Bell.